Tinnitus & Sound Sensitivity
That closeness makes a difference. A structured tinnitus program relies on periodic follow-up, and a manageable trip down the 101 or 280 means the visits after your first evaluation stay realistic rather than daunting.
For city residents who want a dedicated tinnitus focus, verified hearing aids, and options such as Lenire, the modest drive south often buys a level of specialized attention that is worth the trip.
At a glance
- Our Peninsula offices are roughly 20 to 30 minutes south of San Francisco.
- The short drive makes the follow-up visits of a tinnitus program practical.
- Sudden or one-sided tinnitus should be handled promptly and locally in the city.
A short drive south
From most San Francisco neighborhoods, our San Mateo and San Carlos offices are roughly 20 to 30 minutes away by car via the 101 or 280. Compared with the cross-bridge trips some patients make, this is an easy commute for specialized tinnitus care.
Why city patients come to us
San Francisco has excellent medical resources, and we complement them with a specific, sustained tinnitus focus: thorough evaluation, tinnitus retraining principles, real-ear-verified amplification, and Lenire bimodal neuromodulation for suitable candidates.
Fitting visits into a city schedule
Because the drive is short, we can schedule your evaluation and the follow-ups a tinnitus plan needs without turning each into a major outing. Off-peak appointments can further shrink the trip for those with flexibility.
Do your homework before the first visit
You can prepare from home. Reading our tinnitus knowledge hub and what tinnitus is beforehand means your appointment focuses on your particular situation rather than covering the fundamentals.
Urgent symptoms should be handled in the city
For anything sudden or alarming, stay local and act fast. Sudden hearing loss, sudden or one-sided tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus, or tinnitus with dizziness deserves prompt evaluation at the nearest appropriate provider, with follow-up care afterward.
What to expect
What a tinnitus appointment actually involves
- We take the history first15 min
When it started, whether it is one ear or both, what it sounds like, what makes it worse, and what it is stopping you doing. Sleep and concentration matter here as much as the sound itself.
- A full diagnostic hearing evaluation30 min
Air and bone thresholds, speech testing, and middle-ear measures. Most tinnitus sits on top of a hearing loss, and the shape of that loss changes what will help.
- Pitch and loudness matching, where it is useful10 min
We find the frequency and level your tinnitus most closely matches. It is not a severity score. It is a starting point for sound therapy and a way to track change.
- We go through what we found, the same visit20 min
What is causing it if we can tell, what it is not, and which of the options actually apply to you: amplification, sound therapy, tinnitus retraining, Lenire, or a referral.
- A plan you leave with
Written down, with the next appointment booked if you need one. Habituation is a course of care over months, not a device you are handed at the door.
A tinnitus evaluation is a diagnostic appointment, so it is billed to your medical insurance in the same way a hearing test is. We check your benefits before the visit and tell you what your plan covers.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions, answered
How far are your offices from San Francisco?
Usually about 20 to 30 minutes by car via the 101 or 280, depending on your neighborhood and traffic. Both offices are on the Peninsula, in San Mateo and San Carlos.
Is it worth leaving the city for tinnitus care?
For many people, yes. A short drive south brings a dedicated tinnitus focus, real-ear-verified hearing aids, and access to Lenire for candidates, and a tinnitus program involves only a handful of in-person visits over time.
What if my tinnitus started suddenly?
Do not drive down for an emergency. Sudden, one-sided, or pulsatile tinnitus, or tinnitus with dizziness, should be evaluated promptly by the nearest appropriate provider in the city, then followed up for ongoing management.